Frequently Asked
Questions
To help the Bride .....
Here are some of the most
frequently asked questions.
This is our opinion, but a very educated opinion:
Over
35 years as a photographer
( I learned with manual
camera's - not automatic
)
I have studied with some of the recognized masters of the field
Previous college instructor of photography
Memberships in all major associations
Very well known and respected in the field
Experienced in ( and
perform regularly ) most
photography areas - not just wedding photography
Including both studio & location environments.
Serious, Serious Note:
Many people longtime associated with photography
are worried that
"The Art of Photography" is being lost.
I have several published articles on this alone!
The wedding field
today is in the most disarray that I have ever seen it in 35 years!!
I have never seen more
people purchase a digital camera, print business cards and
proclaim themselves to be
a "Wedding Photographer" ( and actually know very little
about the camera, lighting, & understanding
the professionality of the wedding day ).
From looking at many of
the images, they just shoot non-posed "stuff" and call it
photojournalism. This is
a recognized phenomena nationally and is even being
addressed by the camera
manufactures.
** The result of this is that this kind of
"photographer" just snaps pictures with the camera
on it's "automatic or program setting"
In difficult lighting situations - this is a prescription for disaster.
( IE: outdoors like the beach, a park, around glass / mirrors / sunset etc) **
I have people at receptions all the time coming
up to me with their new digital camera
and asking me how to get into
wedding photography .... It looks so fun ...
I can earn " lots of money"
... look at the great images I can do with my digital camera ...
if I purchase your
"camera bracket", I will be a "pro". These people generally do not have a
"clue" as to the realities and responsibilities
of the business. The
photography field is no
different than any other
- professionally learn what you wish to do
for a vocation.
By contrast to the above, I have seen some wonderful - talented people
who I would be very proud
to have them work with my family & I refer them
to others on an on-going
basis.
Bridal Hint:
Don't choose your wedding photographer based on "digital tricks" or on
"Coffee Table Books"
without looking at the actual images that go into the wedding
album.
carefully inspect each image.
I have had MANY brides in the last year come to the studio, look at my
albums, and say:
1. "These are ALL good, I have
seen quite a few photographers where I have to weed through
10 to 15 bad images to find a good one".
2. "Why would some other photographers show a group picture with
everyone's eye's
looking different directions?"
3. The sunset is beautiful, but why are the people dark (someone else's
pictures)
This just applies to what is
happening on the market - noted above.
Becoming more prevalent all the time is medioque and just poor photography
made to look somewhat decent
by digital manipulation
(IE: coloring a
part of an image and leaving the rest B & W).
If pictures are important to
the bride, first choose a photographer
that has GREAT images and then offers an
outstanding album.
Why should I hire a Professional
Photographer?
Wow, the hardest one first! If pictures, remembrances, and impressions
are important to you (
they are not to everyone ), then choose the most
talented photographer you
can find and your budget will afford. A real
professional photographer
is like an
"ace" in your
back pocket on your wedding day
..... is there to help you
..... and
has the knowledge, equipment, experience,
personality,
and talent to do so".
A good example is in the below pictures.
When everything is over,
all you will have are each other & your images.
Nationally, the most
common statement from a bride is
" I wish I had spent more on photography".
There are soooo many " photographers " ...
how do I choose?
This is one of the most important
days of your life.
The best advise I can give you is to hire the best
full-time photographer you
can work into your budget - the rule is " the more you spend on photography,
the more you will get for your $$$ spent ". The top, talented, experienced
people know how to ( and want to ) take care of things in the background
professionally, to give you a top quality experience all the way around.
Not all wedding photographers are alike
( just like all football players are not alike - backyard, high
school, college,
professional levels). You have beginners, semi-pro's, pro's, and advanced pro's.
My
recommended guidelines for choosing a photographer are:
1. Minimum 10 years in business
- in the Tampa Bay Area
2. Member of Professional Photographers of America
3. Member of Florida Professional Photographers
4. Must be a nice person personally
5. Not a firm with multiple "photographers"
What do I look for?
There are many things to address when looking for a professional
photographer.
If you are looking for quality, I can think of 20 photographers with several
different
styles, who are REALLY good at what they do .... and I refer them.
* What is your budget level or range
* Does the photographer do his ( her ) own work or do they
send in contracted part time "photographers" ( a biggie!!)
( I do not recommend any firms with subcontracted, part-time
photographers )
* What style you will be receiving for your wedding
* Are the images good images that you are shown
1. proper lighting
2. proper composition
3. eye's closed?
4. do the pictures "tell you a story"
5. printed properly
* How long has the photographer been a "Professional"
* How long has the photographer been in this area
* Does the photographer belong to Professional
Associations
* Has the photographer received any formal training
( Schools, apprenticeship, etc. or just done O.J.T. )
Major big one!!!
* Do they have proper & modern equipment
* Do they have backup equipment - how many?
* Does the photographer do this full time or do they do this
as a part time job / or does husband or wife support them
( does photography pay the bills - this will tell
you a lot )
* Has anyone heard of this particular firm ( individual )
* Can I see complete actual weddings photographed by this
firm, or do I just see a collection of some of images they
perceive are their best images.
* Do I get to keep the proofs
A. are the proofs magazine proofs or regular photographic prints
B. are the proofs printed on photographic paper or inkjet prints
* How long are my images on the internet before they go away forever
* Do you offer the negatives / CD-ROM for sale
In the past few years, I have seen brides book firms - both photographers, and
other
vendors that
they
know
have bad reputations and talk about "hoping for a good
experience".
" Don't use people or firms with a bad reputation "
They simply do not deserve the business -
and you don't need to take a chance on your wedding day!
Digital or Film?
Having used both ( film for over 30 years and digital for the last
3), I choose digital
for my wedding images.
This needs to be qualified!
Film:
* great depth ... helps inexperience & greater latitude.
* less time consuming
* film is celluloid - will deteriorate ... can be lost ... can be
scratched.
* cannot as easily be used for the creativity of today's images and
albums.
* cannot visually check the images as they are taken.
Digital:
* should use more expensive cameras - for many reasons
* more expensive to perform wedding
* safer than film (with proper training and using proper precautions &
equipment)
* easy to crop and retouch by comparison to film
* potential for increased diversification of images for the bride
* more if an investment in equipment
* more labor intensive
* Incredible color rendition
* greater creativity and flexibility of images for the photographer &
bride
* instant preview allows for confirmation of created image ( instant
gratification )
( instead of waiting for the film to come back to see if you got the image )
* compatible for contemporary wedding albums
* needs experience and training in 4 mediums ..
i.e.: camera operation
Photography standards and basics / lighting, composition, posing, impact,
expressions, ect.
digital files & computer operations ( big and steep learning curve )
color correction
" " "
"
* digital capture will get the inexperienced user into trouble
much faster
than film
Style ...... Traditional /
Contemporary vs. Photojournalism?
There are 2 major schools of thought on wedding photography and they are
diametrically opposite.
Personally, I do both on a wedding day ... I think
there is a place for both for your
memories. I let the bride decide how much posing she wishes to do.
Traditional/Contemporary: Mostly posing the
Bride/Groom, party, & guests in some
traditional posed portraits that give more of a " Portrait " look to your
images. Candid
images ( non-posed or semi-posed ) of some happenings are generally added to the
portraits to capture other aspects of the wedding.
* You will work a lot more directly with your photographer on the wedding
day.
* I know some wonderful photographers that create an incredible wedding for
brides
using this style.
* Usual number of prints from this type of wedding are from 72 prints to 150
prints.
Photojournalism:
This is probably the most misused and misunderstood term
in wedding industry!
* Photojournalism in it's truest
wedding definition is: capturing the wedding:
as it goes, with people not aware of your presence and totally non-posed.
Today, some photographers, both nationally and locally, have combined non-posed
and some set-up images to give a different look to photojournalism
wedding photography.
You, with a very good photojournalist, will have captured some incredible,
sensitive,
emotional, and high-impact images that will help you remember your
wedding day.
Photojournalism, by its very nature, will give you many more
images of your
wedding
day .... each image capturing a small part.
I usually deliver to the bride from 200 to 600 images ... to keep.
* Newspaper photojournalism
is a combination of setup shots and capturing what is
there and tells a very high impact story with the image.
( who, what, where, how )
* Wedding photojournalism is not: a lot
of non-posed pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see images like this all the time ....
There is a huge difference between
photojournalism and just non-posed.
There is a new type of photographer today
that
just "snaps" and calls this photojournalism and wedding photography.
Today there are generic traditional AND photojournalism
images.
For example: I recently saw a bride ecstatic over her wedding "photojournalism"
images ....
ALL of the images were
horizontal, many eyes were closed in the
images, and the composition & lighting were awful. I am very glad the
bride was
happy, but, in my opinion, a completely untrained "uncle Joe" probably could
have
done better ... and less expensive.
Why does photography cost so " gosh darn"
much?
If I was looking for a professional photographer and did not know what I know, I
would say
" are you crazy for charging that? " The reality of any business is that
all
expenses have to
be paid and one has to make a reasonable profit to keep on going.
There are MANY expenses that the bride is unaware
of that goes to creating a
wonderful product for the bride and good
photography is expensive to put together
for a bride ( or any client ).
Personally I am surprised almost weekly by how expensive many things are
...
food, autos, insurance ( especially health ins ), and more -
you know what I am
speaking of - just go to the grocery store.
* The dollar amount you spend on photography will
directly relate to what you
will
receive in the end result.
( there are some exceptions to everything - at the moment I am writing
this, I
know
of photographers who are substantially overpriced and photographers
who are
under priced - but the rule of any purchase generally is " you get what
you pay for ",
and this applies to photography, videography, and all other
aspects of the wedding.
* Very substantial costs, time, & effort go into providing services
for a bride
professionally ... not just buying a camera and some film and operating out of a
garage.
Why should I co-ordinate photography with other vendors ( videographers, Dj's, ect )?
Your chosen photographer is constantly ACUALLY
SEEING what other vendors
are doing ( good and bad ) and what their performance level is. It is probably a
good idea to match the styles of vendors along with the cost factors. I can tell
you
from experience, that when you put all the right pieces of the puzzle together,
it
can create a fantastic wedding day for you!!
I will try
to help all brides, answer questions, and refer brides to
quality vendors ( my opinion ) and do so very regularly,
even though
I might not be working with this bride on her wedding day.
